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Researchers Discover 6 Graves At Old Florida Plantation

JACKSONVILLE (CBS4/AP) — Researchers made a grave discovery—literally— at an old Jacksonville plantation.

According to researchers, they found the graves of three adults who were likely born in West Africa and taken as slaves to the plantation in the early 19th century.

National Park Service officials and a University of Florida archaeologist announced the discovery of six graves at Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island Thursday.

The graves include that of an elderly woman and two men in their 30s or 40s. Alongside them were two young children. A sixth grave was found but left alone.

UF archaeologist James Davidson tells the Florida Times-Union the adults were likely born in West Africa and taken into slavery.

A park official said they will confer with descendants of the Kingsley Plantation to decide what to do with the cemetery.

Mainplantation house1978
Main plantation house at Fort George Island from 1978. (Source: http://www.nps.gov)

(© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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